Essaouira, the gates of the Medina

The Ramparts of the medina of Essaouira propose 2 types of gates architecture...
Bab Doukkala, Bab Marrakech and Bab Sbaa are masterpieces of Moroccan style characterized by their external and interior opening in Roman arches.


Where to sleep in Essaouira?

The second type of gates, as the gate of the Port built in 1769, is a significant example and a monumental realization with a triangular pediment of Greek style supported by grooved columns. It is connected to the port’s Sqala or Skala by a small bridge which spans a small basin where are anchored numerous fishery boats

Tetouan, history of the city

Tetouan city seems to have existed since the Arab conquest, it was known under the name of Tittawin which means water sources in Berber language.
Certain authors allot the foundation of this city to the Andalusian soufi Sidi Abdelkader Tabine which settled in Tetouan about 1148 and started to urbanize the site of Tetouan for the first time by the construction of a several residences, a mosque, shops and mills.


Where to sleep in Tetouan?

In 1286 Abou Youssef Ya' coub of the Merinides dynasty built the Kasbah of Tetouan which was used as a military base for the siege of Sebta.

In 1307, Abou Tabit an Emir of the same dynasty built a large suburb around this
Kasbah which was built by its predecessor.

Approximately in 1437 the city was destroyed, probably by the Portuguese of Sebta, it remains ruined and abandoned until the end of the XVth century when it was rebuilt.

According to many historical sources, the rebuilding of the city of Tetouan should be about 1492-93, just after the fall of Grenade. It was the work of Abou Al Hassan Ali Al Mandari an Andalusian refugee from the area of Grenade.

Just after its rebuilding in 1493 and while all the cities of the Mediterranean coast were occupied by the Portuguese and the Spanish, the city of Tetouan had become at the same time a Jihad base, a trade centre and one of the most famous piracy centres in the Mediterranean basin.

Parallel to these activities, the city continued to attract other migratory flows of Andalusian origin and was about to experience a great urban development as the creation of new districts which were grafted in the first formed core of Hay Al-Balad and Kasbah of Sidi Al-Mandri.

Ouarzazate, history of the city

Built in 1928 by the French, this garrison town (60 000 inhabitants) became the administrative capital of the Drâa area. Located at 1 160 m of altitude, in the confluence area of the Drâa wadi and Dades wadi, whose valleys are exceptional. With its ochre houses and its inordinately large central street, the city may disappoint, but its particular atmosphere already announces the Sahara.

Where to sleep in Ouarzazate?




The exceptional geographic situation of Ouarzazate confers to it the statute of stage town: it is the starting point of excursions towards the Dades valley to the East, the Oases road to the South and towards the Anti-Atlas Mountains. Ouarzazate, beyond all that: remains a door opening on the fabulous dream of desert adventure!

Casablanca, the Hassan II Mosque

Financed partly by the Moroccan people within a national framework subscription and inaugurated in August 30, 1993, the Hassan II mosque (conceived by the French architect Michel Pinseau), is an architectural masterpiece.




Symbol of an Islam open to the world and science, according to the wish of Hassan II and built partly on water, in the extreme point of Maghreb! It perpetuates, on the Pharaonic way, the tradition of architectural research and technical innovation which marked the white city since its creation. This gigantic complex is highly impressing: interminable arcs, cyclopean gates, crushing mass of the minaret (which launches its laser beam to nearly 30 km in direction of Mecque).

The religious
building is designed to receive 25 000 person inside and 80 000 on the esplanade which prolongs it.

The realisation of this masterpiece needed the effort of 35 000 craftsmen from Safi, Marrakech and Fez and six years of work of the Bouygues group, which ensured its realization. The site covers 22,24 a, of which two thirds were gained on the sea. In addition to the mosque itself, extends a vast complex of buildings intended to shelter coranic libraries, schools and conference centres, and which remain in the state of project.

Where to sleep in Casablanca?

Inside the building, all is imposing and monumental; the decoration luxury and refinement exalt the Moroccan artisan know-how: frescos and Zellige, painted and carved wood, stuccos with inextricable drawings, arabesques, luminous colours, all testify to the talent and innovative spirit of the Moroccan artists. After having crossed one of the 25 brass and titanium gates, you enter the immense prayer room, supported by 78 pillars. Moucharabiehs in cedar, ebony and mahogany, onyx and marble coatings, with profusion of Italian Murano glosses. During hot summer days, the sliding ceiling, a mass of cedar of 1 100 opens the room of prayer to the sky... the roof is covered with green emerald tiles, colour symbol of spiritual plenitude in Islam. The ablution rooms with basins in the shape of lotus are in the basement (occupied also by hammams and Turkish baths).

Oualidia, presentation of the city

Charming seaside resort and peaceful fishermen village, between sea and lagoon (with its oyster beds!), halfway between El-Jadida and Safi - very appreciated by the Moroccans the summer and... by the shellfish and fish amateurs.

Where to sleep in Oualidia?


A superb site, remained natural, Beautiful beach protected from the ocean by a bar of small islands, where it is pleasant to bathe (while remaining in calm water) and to practise wind surf. The amateurs of birds will have the occasion to admire flamingos, seagulls, barges and stilts. To observe other species, to move towards the lagoons, the rivers and the salted lakes, which start in the north, close to Sidi Moussa: it is the ideal place to see cormorants, ducks, gulls and waders...

Tétouan, histoire de la ville

Tétouan semble avoir existée depuis la conquête arabe, elle fut connue sous le nom de Tittawin qui signifie sources en langue berbère.

Où dormir à Tétouan?

Certains auteurs attribuent la fondation de cette ville au soufi andalous Sidi Abdelkader Tabine qui s’installa à Tétouan vers 1148 et il commença à urbaniser le site de Tétouan pour la première fois par la construction d’un ensemble de demeures, d’une mosquée, des boutiques et des moulins.

En 1286 Abou Youssef Ya’coub le Mérinide fit construire la Qasba de Tétouan qui a été utilisée comme base militaire pour le siège de Sebta.

En 1307, Abou Tabit Emir mérinide fit construire un grand
faubourg autours de cette Qasba qui a été bâti par son prédécesseur.


Aux environ de 1437 la ville a été détruite, probablement par les Portugais de Sebta, elle reste ruinée et abandonnée jusqu’à la fin du XV ème siècle où elle fut reconstruite.


Selon de nombreuses sources historiques, la reconstruction de la ville de Tétouan devrait se situer vers 1492-93, juste après la chute de Grenade. Elle était l’oeuvre d’Abou Al Hassan Ali Al Mandari un réfugié andalou de la région de Grenade.

Juste après sa reconstruction en 1493 et au moment où toutes les villes de la côte méditerranéenne étaient occupées par les Portugais et les Espagnols, la ville de Tétouan était devenue à la fois une base du Jihad, un centre de négoce et un foyer de piraterie parmi les plus renommés dans le bassin méditerranéen.


Parallèlement à ces activités, la ville continuait à attirer d’autres flux migratoires d’origine andalouse et allait connaître un grand développement urbain qui s’est traduit par la création de nouveaux quartiers qui se sont greffés au premier noyau formé de Hay Al-Balad et la Qasba de Sidi Al-Mandri.

Marrakech, la Koubba Almoravide

La Koubba Almoravide est l'unique témoin architectural de l’époque Almoravide...

Où dormir à Marrakech ?

Situé au cœur de la médina de Marrakech à coté de la mosquée Ben Youssef, La Koubba était jusqu’en 1948 ensevelit, et c’est à la suite de fouilles archéologiques qu’elle a été découverte.

La Koubba Almoravide qui dépendait d’une mosquée proche était destiné aux ablutions. Ce monument se présente sous forme d’une somptueuse coupole édifiée au dessus d’un bassin rectangulaire que ceinturent les vestiges de petites cellules qui faisaient office de latrines.